Why I can’t quite ditch my Android tablet for an iPad just yet

I have a Galaxy S6 tablet that still works just fine, but it’s getting older and older with each passing day. It used to be a strong performer, but now it’s largely been outclassed by newer releases. While I don’t use my tablet for much more than scrolling social media and the occasional game, I’d still like to get something newer one of these days.

An iPad has been on my radar for a long time, and I’ve been looking for something to pair with my Apple TV 4K. The Apple TV is the only Apple product I own, and it hurts me in quite a few ways. I can’t AirPlay anything, anything I buy on my Apple TV is unwatchable elsewhere, and I can’t even use the Find my Remote functionality. An iPad makes perfect sense for me, but there’s still one thing holding me back.

It’s actually the same issue I have of not being able to watch my Apple content on my Galaxy tablet. Anything I bought on the Google Play Store will suddenly be wasted if I buy an iPad. Yes, I can install the Google Play app on iOS and still access my stuff, but it goes deeper than that. The games I purchased, such as Dragon Quest 4 and Final Fantasy 3, will be lost, and I’d be afraid of losing progress in other mobile games where I’m logged into my Google Play account, which might not carry over.

The problems of ecosystems

I’m invested in Google’s

This is one of the clear downsides of sticking with one platform for so long, and I’m sure it’s something that corporations are banking on. For the same reason, it’d be tough to leave behind iOS and switch to Android. Depending on how many years you spent with a certain platform, it might be impossible to switch without being okay with losing a lot of previous purchases.

I actually don’t consider myself to be somebody with a lot to lose, as I’ve become much more conscious about where I buy things. If I’m buying something digitally, I try to do it on a universal platform. For movies, things like Movies Anywhere are better since you can access them on both Android and iOS. That’s not great news for somebody who built up their libraries on iTunes or the Google Play Store, but it’s never too late to change your habits.

The one shining light I’d have if I got an iPad is that I still use a Google Pixel 9a. That would keep all of my purchases intact, but then I’d be faced with a different dilemma: deciding which platform to use going forward. I’d have to pick between downloading apps and games on iOS or Android, all depending on what device I’m currently using. Because of that, it’s very easy to see why people pick certain ecosystems and stick with them.

To use a more targeted example, I’ve been getting into game streaming, and I ended up buying a pair of apps to stream both my PS5 and Xbox games to my phone. These apps would have to be repurchased on iOS, and that’s just something I don’t want to do. Now imagine somebody who has several paid apps that fit that bill, and the problem is abundantly clear. It just feels like no matter how good iPads get over Android options, there will always be something lingering in the back of my mind telling me that I can’t make the jump.

There’s no easy answer

Do what you want to do

Going from iOS to Android or vice versa is really a matter of personal preference. I like everything about iPads, and if I come across one at the right price, I’d probably pick one up once my current tablet bites the dust. I’m okay with mixing iOS into my Android ecosystem, but I’m not sure if I’d ever fully make the switch. While I talked about the numerous issues I have with using an Apple TV 4K in a Google household, it’s still a perfectly usable device. I can get a lot more value out of having it paired with some other Apple devices, but it is still good on its own.

If you’re okay with losing everything you had before, by all means, make the leap. In a perfect world, you won’t have any purchases you’re sad to leave behind, and if that’s the case, then feel free to swap to whatever the best device is. I would like your decision to be based on your needs and what the best product is. There shouldn’t be a world where you see a cool folding device, but you can’t buy it because it’s not the same ecosystem. Apple is starting to make some cooler-looking iPhones, so there is a little bit of diversity there, but it’s nothing compared to what Android has going on.